Reginald de Courtenay Welch
Encyclopedia
Reginald Courtenay Welch (17 October 1851 – 4 June 1939) (sometimes Reginald de Courtenay Welch) was a key player in the early years of association football. He played for The Wanderers
in the FA Cup Final
s of 1872 and 1873, and also played for England
in the first ever international match
. During his career he appeared both in goal
and as a defender.
, London
and attended Harrow School
whom he represented at "soccer", going on to play for Old Harrovians before joining Harrow Chequers
. As an amateur he also played for The Wanderers
, with whom he played as goalkeeper
in the final of the inaugural FA Cup tournament
. The match took place on 16 March 1872 at the Kennington Oval, London
, England
, with the Wanderers running out as 1-0 victors over a team from the Royal Engineers
.
On 30 November 1872 he was part of the England
team that played out a 0-0 draw in the first official international match against Scotland
. In this match he played as half back in a 1-1-8 or 1-2-7 formation. He is the only player to have represented Harrow Chequers F.C.
whilst on England duty. His record of having played in both the first FA Cup Final and the first international match is unique.
In the next year, The Wanderers reached their second consecutive final and Welch was again on the winning side, this time playing in defence as The Wanderers beat Oxford University
2-0 at Lillie Bridge
.
On 7 March 1874, he made his second (and last) England appearance, now in goal, but this time he was on the losing side as England went down 2-1 to Scotland.
He was also a member of The F.A.
committee between 1873 and 1875, and again from 1879 to 1890. He was also an Army tutor between 1883 and 1895, going on to become principal of the Army College at Farnham
, Surrey
in 1895. He was the last survivor of the England
team from the inaugural international match, although he was outlived by Scotland
's Billy MacKinnon
.
England
Wanderers F.C.
Wanderers Football Club is an English amateur football club, based in London, that plays in the Surrey South Eastern Combination. Founded as Forest Football Club in 1859, the club changed its name to Wanderers in 1864....
in the FA Cup Final
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
s of 1872 and 1873, and also played for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in the first ever international match
Scotland v England (1872)
Scotland v England was the first ever official international football match to be played. It was contested by the national teams of Scotland and England. The match took place on 30 November 1872 at West of Scotland Cricket Club's ground at Hamilton Crescent in Partick, Scotland...
. During his career he appeared both in goal
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
and as a defender.
Career
Welch was born in KensingtonKensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and attended Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
whom he represented at "soccer", going on to play for Old Harrovians before joining Harrow Chequers
Harrow Chequers F.C.
Harrow Chequers Football Club was an association football club from London, United Kingdom. They were formed in 1865 and played their home matches at Kennington Oval, London. The club played an important part in English football in the 19th century and played in various FA Cups...
. As an amateur he also played for The Wanderers
Wanderers F.C.
Wanderers Football Club is an English amateur football club, based in London, that plays in the Surrey South Eastern Combination. Founded as Forest Football Club in 1859, the club changed its name to Wanderers in 1864....
, with whom he played as goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
in the final of the inaugural FA Cup tournament
FA Cup 1871-72
The 1871–72 Football Association Challenge Cup was the first staging of the Football Association Challenge Cup, usually known in the modern era as the FA Cup, the oldest association football competition in the world. Fifteen of the association's fifty member clubs entered the first...
. The match took place on 16 March 1872 at the Kennington Oval, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, with the Wanderers running out as 1-0 victors over a team from the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers A.F.C.
The Royal Engineers Association Football Club is an association football team representing the Corps of Royal Engineers, the "Sappers", of the British Army. In the 1870s it was one of the strongest sides in English football, winning the FA Cup in 1875 and being Cup Finalists in four of the first...
.
On 30 November 1872 he was part of the England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
team that played out a 0-0 draw in the first official international match against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. In this match he played as half back in a 1-1-8 or 1-2-7 formation. He is the only player to have represented Harrow Chequers F.C.
Harrow Chequers F.C.
Harrow Chequers Football Club was an association football club from London, United Kingdom. They were formed in 1865 and played their home matches at Kennington Oval, London. The club played an important part in English football in the 19th century and played in various FA Cups...
whilst on England duty. His record of having played in both the first FA Cup Final and the first international match is unique.
In the next year, The Wanderers reached their second consecutive final and Welch was again on the winning side, this time playing in defence as The Wanderers beat Oxford University
Oxford University A.F.C.
Oxford University Association Football Club is an English football club representing the University of Oxford.-History:Formed in 1872, the club was a giant of the 1870s, winning the FA Cup 2-0 against Royal Engineers in 1874 and finishing the competition as runners up in 1873, 1877 and 1880, the...
2-0 at Lillie Bridge
Lillie Bridge Grounds
The Lillie Bridge Grounds was a sports ground in London near to present day Stamford Bridge, opened around 1867. The ground started to fall into disuse after the opening of Stamford Bridge, and after a riot on September 18, 1887 which destroyed the track and grandstand, it finally closed in...
.
On 7 March 1874, he made his second (and last) England appearance, now in goal, but this time he was on the losing side as England went down 2-1 to Scotland.
He was also a member of The F.A.
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
committee between 1873 and 1875, and again from 1879 to 1890. He was also an Army tutor between 1883 and 1895, going on to become principal of the Army College at Farnham
Farnham
Farnham is a town in Surrey, England, within the Borough of Waverley. The town is situated some 42 miles southwest of London in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
in 1895. He was the last survivor of the England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
team from the inaugural international match, although he was outlived by Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
's Billy MacKinnon
Billy MacKinnon
William "Billy" Muir MacKinnon was a Scottish footballer who played for Queen's Park and the Scotland national team in the 1870s....
.
Honours
The WanderersWanderers F.C.
Wanderers Football Club is an English amateur football club, based in London, that plays in the Surrey South Eastern Combination. Founded as Forest Football Club in 1859, the club changed its name to Wanderers in 1864....
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winners: 1872, 1873
England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
- 2 Caps